FLINT, MI --
The final suspect in a federal indictment of a south Flint street gang that is accused of running a gun and drug dealing enterprise was arraigned in federal district court today.

Leon Gills was arraigned on charges of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering and using a firearm during a violent crime.

Gills stood mute on the charges and not-guilty pleas were entered on his behalf.

The judge also approved the prosecutor's motion to have Gills detained pending trial.

Gills was the last suspect to be arraigned in connection to the federal indictment of the Howard Boys street gang.

He was arrested by federal authorities last month in Georgia.

Officials believe the gang used murder and violence to protect its operation in the area around Lapeer Road, Lippincott Boulevard/Thread Lake, Dort Highway and Saginaw Street/12th Street.

Twelve people, including Gills, were named in the May federal indictment on charges ranging from murder to drug and gun offenses.

Another 10 men are facing state charges in connection to the gang. Those charges include murder, larceny and drug offenses.

Wed Jul 11, 2012 8:09 am

untanglingwebsF L I N T O I D

Points made in this posting are similar to more recent postings concerning the drug distribution chains in Michigan. One has to ask if any politically conected people are involved in the dug operations.

Sat Dec 22, 2012 6:53 am

untanglingwebsF L I N T O I D

Snyder's plan is "making a significant difference? Would the governor please explain how?

Gov. Snyder talks Flint crime, emergency manager legislation

By Kristin Longley | klongley1@mlive.com
on December 22, 2012 at 7:00 AM, updated December 22, 2012 at 7:02 AM

Gov. Rick Snyder (left) talks to the media about crime in Flint in December 2011.MLive.com file photo
FLINT, MI -- As Flint closes out another year with a high homicide rate, Gov. Rick Snyder said crime in the city of Flint continues to be on his radar.
"Flint (crime) is still higher than I would like to see it," he said Thursday in a phone interview
.

Snyder said the public safety effort he unveiled in March to target violence in Flint, Pontiac, Saginaw and Detroit is "making a positive difference," but cautioned that it was intended to be a three-year effort.

Snyder said he would like to see the aspects of the plan, which included reopening the city jail and boosting the number of state troopers in Flint, evaluated periodically.

"How can we get them to work more effectively?" he said. "This is going to be an ongoing thing... I'm going to keep up with it."

Snyder spoke to several media outlets including MLive-Flint Journal this week in a series of year-end interviews about his work in 2012. He also held a media roundtable in Lansing on Friday.

He applauded the passage of right to work, saying his lower approval rating as mentioned in recent reports is a "short-term reaction to a major change."

He said he views right to work as "pro-worker" and says it already has led to inquiries from companies about possibly locating in Michigan. Snyder, however, said it's premature to name those companies.

Snyder said he would likely sign the new emergency manager legislation when it hits his desk, after he does a "careful review" of any changes made by the Legislature before it passed.

The bill gives locally elected officials more options in a financial emergency. It also grants city councils and mayors the ability to remove a manager after 18 months.

"It's a significant improvement," Snyder said of the new bill compared to Public Act 4, which was rejected by voters in November. "There should be more local involvement in the process."

Sat Dec 22, 2012 7:27 am

untanglingwebsF L I N T O I D

Flint police officers are alleging that when they go to the local media with their stories that the stories are always blocked by the station's administration. So the public will never learn just how bad the situation is in the Police Department except through the lawsuits filed.